Let's take a moment to put aside thoughts of the violence surrounding the infamous Danish caricatures, the election of Hamas in Palestine and the chaos reigning in Iraq. For many people in Egypt, the most important recent events carrying impact on a national scale were their country's triumph over Senegal in the semi-finals of the Africa Cup, and, three days later, their victory over Ivory Coast to win the Africa Cup itself.
I was fortunate enough to attend the semi-finals round, during which I saw entire families flock to the stadium along with their small children and babies. The sheer number of people tripping over themselves just to see the match showcased the universal and momentous appeal of football.
They packed Cairo Stadium to overflowing capacity; I initially had to sit crammed into an aisle (note: in Egypt, the concept of "fire hazards" still takes second stage to packing as many people as possible into one place). My experience with Egyptian bureaucracy and business has left me with the strong suspicion that more tickets were sold than there were places - an ingenious tactic on the part of the organizers, though infuriating to those who ended up not getting into the stadium.
Meanwhile, the crowd itself was a sea of people who concurrently arrived at identical conclusions: football is great; I love my country; let's play.
During the football games on Tuesday and Friday nights, Egyptian nationalism was on full display. Not only was the entire stadium, with the exception of a few rows of the other team's supporters, decked out in red, white and black, but people everywhere carried Egyptian flags, painted their faces with patriotic designs and shouted slogans at every opportunity. In Egypt, doors to the stadium close four hours before the match begins, so people brought instruments, sang songs and danced to keep themselves entertained while waiting. At various intervals, the voices of Egyptian superstars singing patriotic songs wove over the rows of spectators. Religion also found a place in the stadium that day; its centrality to Egyptian social life translated into prayers before the game and chants like, Allah hayy, tani gayh! (Allah lives, so go for it again!)
Football is in many ways a social balm, something deeply relieving in a world where there exist so many unsolvable troubles. First, football is possibly the most simple, "propless" sport - all you need is something to kick around - so even the poorest of the poor can play it. Further, games provide a safe place for large numbers of people to assemble and join together in a powerful outburst of emotion. In Egypt, for instance, public assembly is tightly regulated, and protests, even peaceful ones that have nothing to do with the government, are often broken up violently by police. Football provides a safe setting in which love of country can be fully expressed without fear of aggravating political regimes.
Finally, despite its ability to evoke nationalist fervor, the sport is also poised to unify the world. People in every country play it, and most countries have developed traditions making it a prominent national hobby. Such a strong common interest can be easily translated into a message of international and even domestic cooperation. Before the match between Egypt and Senegal, for instance, an announcer gave a speech stressing that only in peace can relationships be forged, and that the Africa Cup is a manifestation of international goodwill and friendship.
Additionally, a giant sign next to the field read, in English, "Be fair play - no racism." Such messages are important in a place where Sudanese refugees have been routinely harassed and excluded from the wider society. The international matches also provide opportunities for Egypt's women to attend sporting events, as local football matches are considered far too dangerous for female spectators. I have a strong sense that a good football match can leave everyone a little better off than they were before.
In the past, I never paid a second thought to sports matches, but noticing football's influence upon Egyptian communities convinced me of the sport's lasting ability to unify people across all social backgrounds. I found myself uncannily happy after Egypt's wins, like I had just seen something truly beautiful. I am also under the distinct impression that many others share in my experience. Before the match, a friend of mine related a story in which a girlfriend told her that going to see a football game was the happiest day of her life, moreso even than her wedding day. My experience with the Africa Cup has made me think that perhaps one of the things that draws us closest together as a human race is, simply put, fun.
Natalie Smolenski '07 danced in the streets with hundreds of people after Egypt's final victory.
